Hike the Gubeikou Great Wall of China
Hike the Gubeikou
Great Wall of China
The sheer size and immense beauty of the Great Wall needs to be appreciated from
up close. Walk along the picturesque Gubeikou section of the UNESCO-listed
structure – one of the oldest parts of this famed fortification.
WHY THIS TOUR?
Step back in time to ancient China with a walk along the famed Great Wall, one of the most remarkable structures on Earth. This UNESCO-listed attraction is an incredible feat of engineering. Archaeologists estimate that it once spanned a distance of nearly 10,000 km and dates back 2,300 years.
The Great Wall actually consists of numerous walls, many of them parallel to each other, that were built over two millennia across northern China. The most extensive and best-preserved section of the wall dates from the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) and often traces the crestlines of hills and mountains as it snakes across the Chinese countryside. It is no wonder that walking this ancient wall is on so many bucket lists!
TRAIL ITINERARY
08:00 - 17:00
The guide and driver will collect you from the hotel in Beijing and take you to the Gubeikou section of the great Wall. Upon arrival, start the trek along a scenic part of this famed fortification passing many of the crumbling watchtowers. Gubeikou is beautifully unrestored and it features moderate gradients, with clearer pathways ensuring ease of access. As you walk, your guide will relate the history and stories of the Great Wall and ancient China.
This part of the wall dates all the way back to the Northern Qi dynasty, but most sections were constructed during the Ming dynasty, between 1368 and 1657. Built as a strategic military strongpoint between Shanhaiguan and Juyongguan passes, this was formerly the only way to cross from Liaodong flatland and Inner Mongolia to the central plains of China. Consequently, it has been at the centre of many furious battles over different eras.
At the end of the tour the driver will take you back to the hotel in Beijing.